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The measure of a great man is not his bank account nor a string of degrees. A man is not

He was a Pharisee. Looking back on his life, he said: “I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee and profited in the Jews religion.” (Acts 23:6) He was the greatest enemy of Christ. Acts 7:57-58:

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”

Acts 8:1-3:

“And Saul was consenting unto his death. … As for Saul, he made havoc on the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”

Yet Paul became the greatest advocate for Christ and the most persecuted for his change. Let us consider some reasons why Paul was great.

He always felt remorse at the thought of his early life. 1 Timothy 1:12-13:

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

Acts 22:20:

“And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.”

He was not like so many today. He was not sorry because he got caught or marred his reputation. He had a godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” Godly sorrow is being sorry that one has sinned against God. This was Paul’s sorrow. All need the attitude of Joseph. Genesis 3:9: “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God”?

He was always humble before God (Philippians 3:9):

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

Philippians 4:13:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

1 Corinthians 9:27:

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

He always bowed his will to the will of his God. Yet, he had self-respect and demanded respect from others. (Acts 16:37) His self-respect came from knowing he was right with God.

He gave up all things - birth, position, etc. Philippians 3:7:

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

This he did that he might suffer with Christ (Philippians 3:10):

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

His heart was set on glorifying God and saving his own soul. If we have the disposition of Paul, we will always compare values and chose to do that which would glorify God and save our own souls.

He never looked back:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

He was not just fighting the air (shadow boxing). 1 Corinthians 9:26:

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”

He knew where he was going and why. Some today do not have a sense of direction; they just drift with the tide. We must have wisdom and keep our eye on the Lord and the faith He authored. Hebrews 12:2:

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

He knew whom he trusted (2 Timothy 1:12):

“I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.”

Today, some have said: “I just do not believe I can make it anyway,” which is an admission that they are only halfheartedly serving. We, like Paul, must fully believe the crown is ours. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

All the money in the world cannot buy, all the prestige in the world cannot give a man what Paul had when he walked out under blue Italian skies to keep his date with the Roman headsman. But if we faithfully serve the Lord, we can face death with the same serenity, the same peace, the same confidence with which it was faced by Paul.

These are marks of a great man. Let us try to develop them in our lives.

Jesse Jenkins

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” (Ephesians 2:12-16)

To be without Jesus is to be without hope. He is our all-sufficient savior.

See text above. Also see Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:15, 22; 2 Corinthians 5:21.

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (Revelation 19:16)

It is His right to rule. He is the only guide to life.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)

He is our advocate, helper, comforter.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:1)

We need our advocate because we have problems, problems too big for us. Jesus stands besides us in our trials. He understands (Hebrews 4:15). He knows pain. A scourge lashed His back; He endured crucifixion. He can help. Jesus knows, even when we do not know “what to pray for as we ought,” when we cannot describe our problem, much less the solution, when our best expression is only “groanings which can be uttered” (Romans 8:26-27). He stands at our side. He “searches the hearts” and knows our agony. Then He makes “intercession for saints according to the will of God.” Men may not understand us; men may fail us. Not Jesus! Paul recalled in 2 Timothy 4:16, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” Jesus is our helper in time of need (1 Peter 5:7). We need an advocate because we have an adversary – a fierce adversary (1 Peter 5:8). The name “Satan” means “adversary.” The devil is our enemy. He is determined to destroy us, and on our own, he would succeed. The cry of the conquered man – “who shall deliver us from this body of death” (Romans 7:23-24) is answered. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:25) Oh yes, we have an advocate in our battle with Satan. What an advocate!

We need an advocate because we are guilty of sin. There is no chance of a not guilty plea, we have no defense. We must have an advocate at our side to plead our case. Jesus is such a helper. We are guilty. We deserve to be punished, but Jesus paid the price for us. Jesus came to our aid and went to the cross so that we need not go to hell. Isaiah 53:5 - “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” For us, He paid the price – the absolutely necessary price for redemption. Isaiah 53:12 - “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

We need an advocate because we are stained by sin, our guilt stands between us and God (Isaiah 59:1-2). How shall we be clean? What can wash away our sin? What sacrifice can atone for transgression? No animal sacrifice can atone. No man can atone for all are unqualified because all are sinners. We need help! But who can help us? Jesus, our advocate is the only answer. “…we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1) As He once cleansed us, He continues to be the source of cleansing for our faltering (1 John 1:7). It is through Jesus that we can stand spotless before God in the final day with robes washed “white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

We need an advocate because we are faced with death; we are powerless in the face of death. One is called to our side, who broke the bars of death by His own resurrection, who banished the dread of death. “Oh death, where is your sting? Oh hades, where your victory? …thanks to Him who give us the victory through our Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:55,57)

Yes, we have an advocate; He is real. The question is, what will we do with our advocate? Honor Him and He will say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Fail to honor Him and He will ultimately say, “depart from me ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23) Which answer we get depends on how we treat our Advocate. Yes, Jesus is our hope. And there is none other.

Jesse Jenkins